Apron.



C. F. MALZEN. l APRoN.

APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 31, 1'915.

1,196,747. l fPantedAug. 29,1916.

2 SHEETS- sneu z.

CHHRLES l: MHLZEN CHARLES F. MALZEN, OF LIMA, OHIO.

Arnon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 191 6.

Application led March 31, 1915. Serial No. 18,334.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MALznN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Aprons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in aprons, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apron which may be readily and conveniently applied to or removed from the body.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apron including a bodice full and loose in front and which is close fitting in the back.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved apron designed to cover all garments of the wearer 'that are exposed; the entire garment being 'an apron fitted to the form of the wearer with a set-in waist-line, a bodice full and loose in front and straight and close fitted in the back, and a skirt or lower portion close fitted in front and loose and open in the back.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apron of novel and improved construction whereby the cost of production is reduced to a minimum and the waste of material is substantially entirely eliminated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved apron whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and'otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claim.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an apron constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention in applied position; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective taken at an angle to the disclosure in Fig. 1 and illustrating other features of my invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspectiveview, on a reduced scale, of my improved apron, illustrating in detail a permanent connection of the belt; Fig. Ll is a plan view of the bodice; Fig. 5 is al fragmentary plan view of the skirt or -front section; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the upper portion of a back herein embodied; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper portion of the second back herein included.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1-1 denote the back sections of my improved apron, each formed of a single piece of material and adapted to extend from the neck to the hem of the garment and having its upper portion provided with a lateral extension 2 adapted to be comprised in a sleeve, said sleeve being herein disclosed as of a kimono style. The skirt or front panel 3 is also produced of a single piece of material and has its side edges secured to the adjacent longitudinal edges of the back sections l-l from a point above the belt-line downwardly and secured to the upper marginal portions of the back sections 1-1 and the upper margin of the front panel or skirt 8 is the bodice 4, said bodice being full and loose and gathered at its connection with the upper margin of the front panel or skirt 3. The bodice is also provided adjacent its upper portion with the lateral extensions 5 adapted to coact with the extensions 2 of the back sections 1 for the protection of the sleeve. The skirt or front panel 3 is tight or close fitted at the waist-line and extends upwardly above the waist or belt line to create a set-in waist-line to impart to the upper portion of the skirt or panel 3 the appearance of a close fitted skirt.

The back sections are ungathered and before the belt is fastened extend straight down from the neck to the lower edge or hem of the garment and the adjacent margins of said sections at the top and at a point intermediate the top and the waist-line are provided with the coacting securing means 6, herein disclosed as conventional buttons and button holes, said securing means being preferably two in number. It is to be observed that one of the coacting securing means 6 is arranged at the neck of the garment proper while the second coacting securing means is secured intermediate the neck portion of the garment and the waistline. The remainingA free margins of the back sections are permanently disconnected. By this arrangement, it will be readily observed that the garment may be fastened in applied position with convenience and facility, as the coacting securing means are arranged at localities easily accessible by a hand of the wearer. It will also be perceived that the belt 7 serves as an additional means for holding the back sections close to the body. lt is also to be observed that the upper portion of the back sections 1 1 are cut scant which assures a tight fit of said back sections.

Secured within one of the seams between the skirt or front panel 3 and a back section l above and immediately adjacent the waist-line is an extremity 0f a belt 7 which is adapted to be disposed across the back of the wearer and suitably secured to the front panel or skirt 3 at the opposite side thereof. As herein disclosed, the opposite side of the front panel or skirt section 3 is provided with a conventional button while the free extremity of the belt 7 is provided with an ordinary button hole, for a purpose which is believed to be self-evident.

As herein embodied, the neck of the garment is preferably V-shape and the various edges 0f the garment and the upper margi- `nal portion of the skirt or front panel 3 are provided with suitable trimmings 8 preferably rick rack braid for enhancing the general appearance of the garment.

lVhen the apron is first placed upon the wearer with the belt unfastened, the back sections extend straight downward from the shoulders of the wearer to the lower edge of the skirt. But when the belt is in place and fastened the belt draws the back sections inward at the waist, drawing these back sections into close fitting contact with the back of the wearer, thus giving a neat and stylish appearance to the apron, the appearance of an ordinary princess dress. This appearance of the apron is secured not only by the fact that the back sections are drawn inward into close fitting contact with the back of the wearer, but by the fullness of the front of the waist or bodice secured by making the bodice full and gathering it at the waist, the result of the construction is that the garment may be as easily put on as if it were an apron, it being merely held by the two buttons 6. lt may be left in this loose condition, which is indicated somewhat in Fig. 3, but in order that it may appear as an ordinary morning dress of a simple character the belt is fastened around the waist. It draws the back sections inward at the waist causing it to lit the wearers back snugly, thus giving a finish and style to the garment which it would otherwise not have and taking away from the apron appearance. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the belt 7 is connected to the upper corners of the apron section 3 below the relatively full waist or bodice so that no pull' comes upon the waist or bodice and this remains loose and full. If the back was not formed in straight pieces or sections but was made full and then gathered the apron would not have the appearance of an ordinary dress made in the present style but would have an ungainly and awkward appearance.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an apron constructed in accordancewith my invention is 0f an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the scope of the appended claim, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

A garment of the character described comprising two ungathered straight cut back sections extending normally straight downward from the neck to the lower edge of the garment, a separate front panel secured to the back sections from a point above the belt-line down, a bodice or waist front secured to the upper margin of the panel and the adjacent side margins of the back sections, said bodice or waist front he ing full and gathered at its connection with the front panel, said front panel being close fitted at the upper portion thereof, a belt secured to one side of the front panel below the waist-line thereof and adapted to extend across the back sections to thereby cause the back sections to be drawn inward at the waist when the belt is in place, and means at the extremity of the belt and the opposite side of the front panel for mamtaining the belt in applied position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. MALZEN.

1Witnesses BLANCHE APPLEMAN, FLORENCE MAXWELL.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

